Study Finds Professors Face Grade Pressure
Students and families should know that surveyed faculty report pressure from students over grades and workplace bullying from colleagues.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Higher Education
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A study of 189 faculty and staff at universities in Canada, the U.S. and U.K. reports widespread bullying in academia, including pressure from students over grades. Peer-reviewed findings were published in October 2026 in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Practice.
Why it matters
Students and families often see faculty as the people who shape their grades and academic experience, so pressure on educators to change marks affects the integrity of the credential students are paying for. The findings add evidence to a growing conversation about the working conditions inside colleges and universities.
Thirty percent of the 189 respondents said students pressured them for a better grade, and the highest bullying rate reported at some institutions reached 68%. Junior faculty and staff reported more peer bullying, while senior faculty were more likely to report grade pressure from students.
The players
Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Practice
A peer-reviewed academic journal that published the study's findings in October 2026.
The Conversation
A nonprofit media outlet that publishes academic research written by scholars, and hosts the original article on faculty bullying.
The details
Respondents anonymously rated how often they experienced 22 common forms of mistreatment from colleagues and supervisors, and a separate set of questions asked about pressure from students over grades. Reported student tactics included threatening grade appeals, filing malicious complaints, posting negative online reviews, and using emotional manipulation and intimidation. Faculty and staff who are Black, Indigenous or people of color reported being targeted more frequently.
Timeline
October 2026: Peer-reviewed findings were published in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Practice.
Education Landscape
The study's 68% high-end figure compares sharply with the more than 30% rate of workplace bullying among U.S. and Canadian adult workers at any given time. Its focus on grade pressure places the findings within ongoing debates about how higher education measures and protects academic standards.
If you are a student, the findings suggest faculty may face pressure over grades, which is worth understanding when you consider how your institution handles academic concerns. Questions about grade appeal processes and academic support are best directed to your school's academic advising or student services office.
The takeaway
Grade pressure and workplace bullying are real concerns across colleges and universities, and the study points to a need for interventions that are tested before being widely adopted. If you have questions about how your school handles academic disputes, contact the registrar's office or academic advising.
Further reading
For broader context on how college policies and student outcomes are shaped, explore our Higher Education coverage.
More information
Read the original Conversation article on faculty bullying for the full study details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Idaho Press.
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